Whispers

Phil Rogers

The Roger Clemens mistrial was viewed with relief around Major League Baseball. Commissioner Bud Selig and his lieutenants weren't as worried about Clemens' standing as they were about any new revelations that could have come up in sworn testimony. … Many in baseball think Heath Bell will be the next big name traded. The Cardinals were closing in on him before the Phillies jumped into the conversation after the Brewers landed Francisco Rodriguez. … The Yankees are among the teams looking for bullpen help. They were in on Rodriguez before the Mets got a better offer from the Brewers. … The Dodgers are almost certain to trade Hiroki Kuroda, perhaps as early as this week. The Tigers, Yankees and Red Sox are among the teams in the mix. … Some teams looking for starters are waiting to see if the Twins make Francisco Liriano available. He and the Giants' Jonathan Sanchez may be the best arms on the board, as Ubaldo Jimenez and Felix Hernandez are so much pie in the sky. … MLB continues to study Bartolo Colon's stem cell procedure for the possibility that he was treated with human growth hormone. MLB officials are also hopeful the NFL will remain firm in its demand that the football union agree to blood testing for HGH, because that will make it easier for MLB to sell it to its players union. … Billy Beane's a bright, engaging guy, but I don't see how "Moneyball" packs theaters unless they're letting A's traveling secretary Mickey Morabito play himself.